Airlines
AC ready to talk, disputes union claims
Air Canada said "it remains at the negotiating table awaiting a response from ACPA to a comprehensive proposal tabled by the company on Monday, January 16, 2012. " In a statement, Air Canada said it has been in negotiations with ACPA since October 2010 and following the rejection of a first tentative agreement reached in May 2011, the company waited six months for ACPA to return to the negotiating table. The two sides have now been in discussions assisted by a federally-appointed conciliator since early November 2011. The carrier noted that following two separate extensions to the...
Pilots say AC has abandoned talks
The president of the Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA) expressed the "frustration" of ACPA members that "their airline is abandoning the effort to negotiate a new contract with the assistance of a federal conciliator." In a blunt statement, captain Paul Strachan said that: "This is a clear attempt by Air Canada to engineer a conflict without making a serious effort to negotiate a settlement." ACPA's president continued: "Air Canada failed to table a proposal within the 60-day conciliation process that it requested from the federal government. Even after we agreed to extend conciliation,...
Open Allies applauds fee disclosure rules
Open Allies for Airfare Transparency is applauding the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for adopting a rule requiring improved disclosure of baggage fees that has now come into effect. However, the group noted much more work needs to be done quickly to provide full disclosure of baggage and other major fees, such as for seating and boarding, before purchase, to enable meaningful comparison shopping across airlines of the 'all-in" (fare+fees+taxes) price of a ticket. DOT has announced plans for a supplementary rule-making to address full disclosure of these fees through all distribution...
NACC picks O’Rourke as new director
The National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) has named Marc-Andre O'Rourke as its new Director. "We are extremely pleased to welcome Marc-Andre to the NACC. He is a dynamic and fluently bilingual lawyer who has acted for the last several years as legal counsel in the area of aviation security. Marc-Andre will bring his experience and expertise to the NACC as he takes a lead role in the organization's development. As Director, he will be at the centre of the NACC's operations and provide critical support and oversight to the association going forward," said NACC president, George Petsikas....
Lufthansa launches private jet service in NA
Lufthansa will introduce its premium Lufthansa Private Jet service to the North American market on Feb. 1, 2012. The move has been made possible by an expanded relationship with NetJets Inc., and the new service builds upon the popular Lufthansa Private Jet product that is already operated in Europe in conjunction with NetJets Europe. Lufthansa Private Jet will provide flights tailored to the customer's itinerary throughout North America on a fleet of aircraft managed and operated by NetJets. Lufthansa Private Jet service in North America is available through an interchange program with...
Dubai airport post record numbers in 2011
Dubai International had another record year in 2011, handling 50.98 million passengers -- and increase of 8% over the 47.2 million travellers it welcomed in 2010. In its newly released annual traffic report, Dubai Airports notes that December passenger numbers reached 4.69 million, an increase of 10.2% compared to 4.26 million recorded during the same month in 2010. Aircraft movements totalled 29,519 in December, an increase of 7.7% from the 27,398 registered during the same period last year and 326,317 for the full year up 6.2% versus 2010. Average passenger numbers per passenger aircraft...
CHA taking care of business in the Bahamas
Caribbean Marketplace 2012 was officially opened this week with much pomp and circumstance at Atlantis in The Bahamas with attendees including Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham. The annual travel show has attracted a total of 1,190 delegates from 18 countries, including Canada, the most in three years. Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Josef Forstmayr noted that 2010 was a record year for "stop-over" arrivals in the Caribbean with 23.1 million visitors and said the forecast for 2011 is a 4% increase on this. "There is no question that our buyers who are attending Caribbean Travel...
Emirates, Alaska launch new partnership
Emirates and Alaska Airlines have launched a new frequent flier partnership, offering passengers the opportunity to accrue Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles when they fly to any of Emirates' 118 destinations worldwide, including points across Africa, India and the Middle East. Emirates Skywards members can also accrue miles across the Alaska Airlines network in the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada and Mexico. "As part of our commitment to Seattle, we are launching our service by partnering with Seattle's hometown airline to offer customers the convenience of a frequent...